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Anatomical Considerations of Olecranon Elbow Bursitis for Raleigh, Cary, Garner, Apex and Triangle Patients

Bursae are fluid fill sacs that are found around joints between the skin and the bone/tendon attachment sites. The purpose of the bursa is to alleviate friction between the skin and other moving parts such as the bone and tendon.

The bursa located at the elbow, just over the "point" is called the olecranon bursa. This tissue can be felt at the point of the elbow when the arm is straight.

Elbow Bursitis

Inflammation of the bursae sac is called  “olecranon elbow bursitis " and can be brought about, usually at the elbow, by direct trauma from a fall or other inadvertent pressure trauma. A common reason for non-traumatic inflammation is a form of arthritis called gout or additionally inflammatory or rheumatoid arthritis. It is not uncommon to find that approximately 20 % of inflamed bursa become infected.

Symptoms of Elbow Bursitis

Patients may experience gradual or sudden swelling, depending on the cause of the inflammation, be it traumatic or an infection, or a gradual swelling that is long lasting, indicating a chronic condition.

Indications of an infection to the bursa is reddening or increased temperature of the skin and the skin around the site may be open or abraded from an injury.  The amount of pain experienced may vary.

Differentiation

Straightforward, non-infected elbow bursitis is generally not painful unless related to an infection, acute aggravation of an arthritic condition such as gout or rheumatoid. Usually the symptoms of elbow bursitis are most noticeable when bending the elbow beyond 90 degrees or apply long direct pressure to the point of the elbow.

Elbow Pain Treatment Approach

If the bursa is inflamed but not infected, the elbow pain treatment of choice is Rest (splint) Ice, Compression (ace bandage or sleeve) allowing the inflamed bursae to settle down. For those bursa extremely inflamed and painful, the physician may consider draining and injecting the bursa with a steroidal anti inflammatory medication. Simple padding of the elbow can provide further irritation.

In the event of an infected bursa, you will need to undergo antibiotic therapy and possibly surgery to rid the bursa of the infection.

In chronic recurrent situations it may ultimately result in the removal of the bursa. For the most part, olecranon elbow bursitis is felt to be more of a small nuisance problem that is conservatively cared for as long as there is no infection.

For more information on how the elbow inmflammation specialists at Cary Orthopaedics can help you, contact us today at 919-467-4992 for an appointment!

Cary Orthopaedics serves patients from Raleigh, Garner, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Clayton, Chapel Hill, and Pittsboro, NC